SDS100/SDS200: SDS 100: locking on to Local Law TAC Channels & doesn’t scan- help

[Turk_WLF]

I’m not sure what is going on with My SDS 100, it just started to lock on to my Local Law TAC Channels (3 Channels) and will not scan. On the TAC Channels all you hear is Cracking and Popping.

When I start the scanner, it loads my favorites & then one of the TAC channels stays on & above the “System” soft button is a “NFM”. Sometimes I can press the “Channel” soft button & the scanner will cycle thru the local channels & then will lock on to 1 of the 3 TAC Channels.

Can anyone assist me with this problem?

Thank you,

 

[iMONITOR]

Did you check to see if they are encrypted?

RR Database Home

The most complete database of radio communications data

www.radioreference.com

 

[dave3825]

Have you tried hitting the Avoid button?

Avoiding Transmissions Avoids are common to every System in the Favorites List. Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power. See also Review Scan Avoids.

Scan Menu Contents​

Channel Avoid When the Channel is in the display or in Channel Hold Mode: To Temporary Avoid press Avoid. To Permanent Avoid press Avoid twice quickly. Department Avoid When the Department is in the display or Department Hold Mode: To Temporary Avoid press Dept then quickly press Avoid. To Permanent Avoid press Dept then quickly press Avoid twice. System Avoid When the System is in the display or in System Hold Mode: To Temporary Avoid press System then quickly press Avoid. To Permanent Avoid press System then quickly press Avoid twice. Site Avoid In Site Hold Mode (Func then Dept): To Temporary Avoid press Func then Site and quickly press Avoid. To Permanent Avoid press Func then Site and quickly press Avoid twice. Press Func then Site to release Site Hold.

 

[JethrowJohnson]

What agencies do those channels belong to? Which county? We could check the database and see if there's any information that could lead to an explanation.

 

[RMason]

Have you checked the squelch setting?

 

[werinshades]

Does it sound like this:

 

[chill30240]

Mine did exactly the same thing. I sent it to Jon Wienke. He fixed the cold solder joint and it worked flawless ever since. I don't think that he works on these scanners anymore so as far as I know you'll have to send it to Uniden.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Mine did exactly the same thing. I sent it to Jon Wienke.

Dead link FYI

 

[tvengr]

Is this happening on conventional frequencies or talkgroups on a trunked system? We need to know your county and the systems and agencies you are trying to monitor to be able to help.

 

[aj4g]

Might be a birdie or some kind of interference on your end or location.

Take the antenna off and see if it still does it. If it stops with the antenna off, it is probably some sort of interference.

 

[sonm10]

Try the squelch. Should be 2.

 

[Turk_WLF]

Sorry, it’s my first post to the forum…

The Squelch is set to “2” & I reseated the antenna after checking for any interference even with the antenna off the problem was still there.

Here a link to the Frequencies (Marion County, Kansas) and the Channels are the Law TAC 1-3...

Marion County, Kansas (KS) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

It does sounds exactly like the youtube video that werinshades posted.

What are my options to fix it?

Thank you all for the quick replies….

 

[werinshades]

It does sounds exactly like the youtube video that werinshades posted.

What are my options to fix it?

Unfortunately, it has to be sent to Uniden repair if not under warranty. Around $100 total.

 

[Turk_WLF]

Just wondering if it IS the cold solder issue (as it appears to be I think)... is it an early production issue with the SDS 100? I got mine in Aug. 2018.

 

[tvengr]

On the TAC Channels all you hear is Cracking and Popping.

458.8125	WQAW714	M		MarionCo SO Tac1	Sheriff Tac 1	FMN	Law Tac
453.2625	WQAW714	M		MarionCo SO Tac2	Sheriff Tac 2	FMN	Law Tac
458.200	WQAW714	M		MarionCo SO Tac3	Sheriff Tac 3	FMN	Law Tac

The M in the Type column means that there is no repeater. You will be able to hear the mobiles only if they are close or you have a good outside antenna. There may be just enough signal to break the squelch but not enough to receive audio. Are you able to receive sheriff dispatch OK? Check if you can receive your local NOAA weather channel.

 

[Ubbe]

The Squelch is set to “2” & I reseated the antenna after checking for any interference even with the antenna off the problem was still there.

On those three exact frequencies it seems to be an internal birdie in the scanner if I have set IFX to On. It doesn't help with filter settings and the signal are -97dBm with 4 signal bars down to 100dBm and three signal bars on the weakest channel. Set the squelch to 0 and take off the antenna and then tune to those frequencies and then alter the IFX setting and see if the signal disappears, it does for me anyhow. If I tune one channel step from those frequencies there's no longer any interfering signal.

/Ubbe